Health disparities and health equity: the issue is justice.
Am J Public Health
; 101 Suppl 1: S149-55, 2011 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21551385
ABSTRACT
Eliminating health disparities is a Healthy People goal. Given the diverse and sometimes broad definitions of health disparities commonly used, a subcommittee convened by the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Healthy People 2020 proposed an operational definition for use in developing objectives and targets, determining resource allocation priorities, and assessing progress. Based on that subcommittee's work, we propose that health disparities are systematic, plausibly avoidable health differences adversely affecting socially disadvantaged groups; they may reflect social disadvantage, but causality need not be established. This definition, grounded in ethical and human rights principles, focuses on the subset of health differences reflecting social injustice, distinguishing health disparities from other health differences also warranting concerted attention, and from health differences in general. We explain the definition, its underlying concepts, the challenges it addresses, and the rationale for applying it to United States public health policy.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Disparidades en el Estado de Salud
/
Política de Salud
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Public Health
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos